How we kept our team engaged during the holidays

Like almost everything else that has taken place since COVID-19 emerged, this holiday season was…unprecedented. In Montreal, where Mistplay’s head office is located, the city entered a partial lockdown. Along with many other restrictions, this meant that indoor gatherings were prohibited. Instead of Mistplay’s usual holiday party, which would have included enjoying a few drinks and going out to dinner, we came up with some creative ideas to celebrate the holidays safely.

Leading up to the holidays, we invited Nick from Fun Broker for an interactive, enjoyable activity where our team learned about American Sign Language (ASL). Through mini-games and engaging discussions, we covered the history of ASL, learned some fun and useful signs, and gained insight into the experiences of people with hearing loss in our society.

During our virtual holiday party, we blocked off an entire afternoon to enjoy the activities we had planned. First, we kicked things off with a lesson from a local bartender, where our team used cocktail kits to make delicious alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Then, we revealed the results of our gift exchange, which had taken place by mail in the weeks leading up to the party. Finally, everyone received a $25 gift card that they used to order a holiday meal. It wasn’t quite the same as being there in person, but it was still a memorable and fun event!

As we entered the holiday season, we continued our biweekly virtual team lunches for our employees who were working. We also sent gift baskets to our team, and within Montreal, we were proud to support a small business owner over the holidays. Our team loved the delicious treats and festive decor that came with each basket.

We miss the holiday season already, but we’re feeling super energized and ready to tackle the new year!